Syria: need to extend the UN cross-border resolution

Of the 4.4 million people living in northwest Syria, 4.1 million people need humanitarian aid. More than 60% are internally displaced people. They will soon lose access to much-needed humanitarian and medical aid unless UN Cross-border Resolution (UNSCR 2585) is extended by the UN Security Council on 10 July 2022.
 
Cross-border points are the only viable humanitarian channels to cover the growing needs in northwestern Syria. As of 2014, 47.7 million people have received health care assistance through the cross-border Channel (OCHA).
 
Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) is calling on the UN Security Council to extend the cross-border resolution, which expires on July 10, 2022, for the delivery of humanitarian aid through the Bab al-Hawa crossing in northwestern Syria.
 
The non-renewal of the cross-border resolution will cause severe disruption and decrease in the delivery of humanitarian and medical aid in northwest Syria and will aggravate the current situation.
 
"Médecins Sans Frontières will be forced to review the scale and quality of health support provided in northwestern Syria and will no longer be able to provide the current volume of aid to the most vulnerable," said San Filippo of MSF.
 
Most of the hospitals and health centers do not have the medical equipment needed to operate, and the health and lives of the patients will be in danger. Ensuring proper quality standards, especially for medical items and drugs in northwestern Syria, is challenging. Some medicines are simply not available in this area.
 
Most international and local humanitarian groups operating in northwestern Syria currently rely on funds raised through UN mechanisms related to the cross-border Resolution. If the resolution is not extended, these groups will have to work on unsafe ground routes and will need a lot of time to readjust to the new reality.

_{Source: RW}